Search form

Search form

Hospitals are trying to reduce the number of emergency department super-users and save money by creating programs that help people get a primary care physician and deal with social issues such as homelessness. A program at University Hospital in Louisville, Ky., spent about $6,000 helping a homeless man get medical care, housing and food stamps after he ran up $626,143 in ED charges for nonemergency care.

Related Summaries

A study from Denver Health found that only 28% of hospital super-users still met the criteria after one year and per-person costs decreased in line with reductions in the use of health care services. Researchers said many super-users did not meet expected characteristics of the group, such as having multiple chronic conditions, and that their need for hospital care was intense but temporary.

Long Beach, Calif., hopes the AddressIQ application can help reduce the number of 9-1-1 super-users who make repeated calls for nonemergency medical assistance. The app links caller addresses to the number and types of emergency dispatches made to the location. This helps with efforts to identify frequent callers and provide education and social outreach.

The Center for Health Care Strategies said programs in 26 states are trying to reduce medical costs by helping hospital emergency department super-users who are poor or uninsured access social services and less expensive routine medical care. Health care systems across the country help people get driver's licenses, bus tickets, blankets and medical supplies, while teams in New York are getting training to help people handle housing eviction notices.

A pilot program in Camden, N.J., that sends a nurse practitioner, social worker and community health worker to coordinate care for hospital ER super-users reduced emergency visits and significantly lowered health care costs. The team helped the patients find places to live, check their blood sugar regularly and adhere to their medications.

A pilot program in Camden, N.J., that sends a nurse practitioner, social worker and community health worker to coordinate care for hospital ER super-users reduced emergency visits and significantly lowered health care costs. The team helped the patients find places to live, check their blood sugar regularly and adhere to their medications.